- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
THORVERTON’s new skipper Graham White isn’t shy about his team’s aims for the season ahead.
“The aim is to win the division – there isn’t much point playing league cricket if you don’t want to win it,” said White, whose side get the season under way with a home game against Barnstaple & Pilton.
“Based on last year when we finished fifth, I would say we have a great chance.
“Halfway through the season we were one off the bottom and not going at all well.
“We won six of the next nine games, which was promotion form in anyone’s book.
“Last year we had a young side and at times I was the only one over 30.
“Our young players are a year older and if we start as well as we finished in 2013 we will be up there.”
White, who has captaincy experience with Alphington and Clyst St George, takes over from James Hope, who finds it increasingly difficult to fit cricket in around work commitments.
New to Station Road this season is Queenslander Dan Beatty, a 21-year-old medium quick bowler who can bat a bit as well.
A rising talent to look out for is James Maxwell, a middle-order batter and seamer, who White is tipping to step up from the 2nd XI this season.
SHOBROOKE Park’s new captain Phil Anning is making no grand predictions for the campaign ahead.
Shobrooke had a testing season in 2013 with Justin Dollow starting the campaign as captain before handing back to Chris Ford a couple of months in.
Ford had been glad to get rid of the job at the end of 2012, having held it off and on for most of the previous decade.
Dollow won’t play at all this year as his work has taken him to the United States.
Shobrooke have look a bit stronger than last season thanks to a couple of signings and improved availability.
But Anning isn’t sticking his neck out at all ahead of the curtain-raiser against newly promoted Axminster this Saturday.
“We will be looking to enjoy it this year and improve across all sides,” said Anning, the older brother of Devon pacer Trevor Anning.
“There has been an influx of players in the 17-24 age bracket who will play in the 2nd XI and I am looking forward to seeing them develop.”
Shobrooke’s overseas player is Nick Prell, a left-arm opening bowler from Canberra who will bat in the middle order.
Chris Simpson, the English-qualified Aussie who played last year, is currently on holiday but should be back in a couple of weeks.
New to the club is much-travelled all-rounder Alvin Pollard, who can count Exmouth, Alphington, Exeter and Cockington among his former clubs.
Shenan Grossberg, with Uplyme last season, has moved into the area and joined his local club.
Shobrooke picked up quick bowler James Bevan towards the end of last season and Anning is looking forward to having him in his armoury for a full campaign.
Anning also hopes to see young batter Dan Pyle nail down the number four slot.
“He is an exciting young man,” said Anning.
BRAUNTON are looking to get back on an even keel in the B Division this season, which starts at home to Tavistock this Saturday.
The Kelseymen were relegated last summer from the A Division with only two wins to their name and find themselves back in the B for the first time since 1984.
The departures of batsmen Laurence May and Tom Mitcham to Premier side Sandford haven’t been well received at Kelsey, although May barely featured last season anyway.
Skipper Ian Roberts is more concerned with who has stayed and who has arrived.
“Rob Collier has joined us from Filleigh and looks good for a place in the top four,” said Roberts.
“Martin Smith is fit after missing most of last season due to injury and gives us an extra seam bowling option.
“Everyone else is still around – Jon Baglow, Alex Hodges very much so – and I am hoping Tom Robotham will play a big part this year.”
Roberts has no targets other than steering well clear of the relegation zone.
“We have a tough start with Tavistock and Barnstaple in our first two games and to do anything we need a good start in those matches,” said Roberts.